Hoops consider more time off for Brown

Celtic midfielder Scott Brown looks set for an extended spell on the sidelines in a bid to overcome his lingering ankle injury.

Brown sat out Celtic’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League victory at Hamilton on Sunday and will miss tomorrow night’s Co-operative Insurance Cup quarter-final against Hearts.

Celtic assistant manager Mark Venus also expects Brown to miss the SPL clash against Kilmarnock on Saturday.

And Venus admits he would prefer Brown to rest further if it means a return to the form that persuaded Celtic to pay Hibernian £4.4m for his services two years ago.

The 24-year-old underwent surgery on his ankle in the close season and missed the first few games of Tony Mowbray’s reign.

But he has struggled to shake off the pain in his ankle and visited a specialist in London earlier this month before pulling out of Scotland’s friendly in Japan.

Venus said: “I haven’t seen him for a couple of days. I do know his ankle is very sore.

“I would suggest he isn’t fit for selection this weekend either. After that, I’m not sure.”

Celtic face Hamburg in the Europa League on November 5 and visit Falkirk in the SPL three days later.

But with a two-week interval before Celtic face Dundee United, Mowbray may be tempted to rest Brown until the trip to Tannadice.

And Venus clearly hopes Scotland boss George Burley leaves him out of his squad for the friendly against Wales on November 14.

Venus said: “He’s got an international week coming soon so he will get another break, hopefully.

“Listen, I think he’s got a problem and he needs a rest. It’s well-documented.

“For Scotland, for Celtic, for everyone, for the kid, for his performances, I think he has got to get himself fit properly.

“Hopefully, he will take as long as it takes to come out on the pitch next time as the proper Scott Brown.”